Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is the kind of Dem that Republicans usually don’t mind too much. He’s a tough moderate, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and he represents a district full of working-class Reagan Democrats. Murtha has a very centrist voting record with one constant: he always backs the military.
As one of the biggest hawks in the House Dem Caucus, Murtha has never opposed a Pentagon budget. He was also one of the strongest Dem supporters of the war in Iraq in the House. Murtha, in other words, is the quintessential pro-Defense Democrat.
Which is why I was so disgusted to see the House GOP turn their rhetorical guns on him yesterday because he had the nerve to criticize the way in which the war is being fought.
“We cannot prevail in this war as it is going today,” Murtha said Thursday at a news conference with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Murtha said the incidents of prison abuse in Iraq were a symptom of a problem where U.S. troops in Iraq are undermanned, inadequately equipped and poorly trained….[He added that] the problems in Iraq are due to a “lack of planning” by Pentagon chiefs and “the direction has got be changed or it is unwinnable.”
Keep in mind, Murtha wasn’t advocating a cut-and-run strategy. He expressed support for increasing U.S. troop strength and sending the troops already in Iraq more equipment. He even said that he wasn’t calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation.
To the GOP attack squad tell it, Murtha had just pledged allegiance to Saddam Hussein.
Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the majority leader, accused Murtha of participating in a “calculated and craven political stunt.”
“The Democrats are quitting, calling the war unwinnable while we have our men and women and their families sacrificing every day” charged Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
Democrats are “basically giving aid and comfort to the enemy,” echoed Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas.
This is growing pretty tiresome.
The first time Republicans attack the patriotism of a decorated Dem war hero, it’s troubling. The second time, it’s offensive. The third time, disgusting. But now that it seems to be a daily exercise for these fools, one wonders if it will ever stop.
Murtha’s crime? Stating the obvious — the existing strategy for the war in insufficient — and recommending stronger support — more troops with more resources.
At yesterday’s event, Murtha, a former Marine, didn’t exactly sound like a pacifist. While Republicans said his comments undermined the troops, Murtha reminded everyone that the troops already know the truth.
You think the troops don’t know about these shortages? You think the troops don’t have — I went over there. This General was telling me how good the morale was. I said, you don’t need to tell me, General, how good morale is. I’ve been around too long. I’ll talk with troops to find out how the morale is.
You saw the Stars and Stripes report. That was before it got hot. Now it’s starting to get hot again. They don’t need to tell me about checking with troops. I know what affects them. They want to be taken care of, and they’re not being taken care of. That’s what I want to get done. I want to change the course of this thing.
According to Tom DeLay, who avoided military service when he had the chance, this means that Democrats want to “surrender in the war on terror.”
Just when I think these people can’t sink any lower, they manage to find a way.